New TRICARE legislation introduced in Senate

Senators Marco Rubio (FL) and Frank Lautenberg (NJ) have introduced legislation that seeks to protect TRICARE beneficiaries from excessive and unfair enrollment fee increases and large hikes in pharmacy co-pays. The Military Health Care Protection Act of 2012 (S. 3203) emphasizes that military service is not like civilian occupations and the associated health care benefits are earned through 20 or more years of sacrifice and service to one’s country.

Senator Lautenberg’s efforts have been ongoing since 2007, when he introduced similar legislation and amendmends to control TRICARE fee increases. Other previous efforts supporting military financial issues include introducing language in bills that would have limited increases to no more than the Consumer Price Index, which is the basis for Social Security and VA benefits, and the COLA for military retired pay.